Each
year Union opens its academic calendar by involving freshmen and other members
of the campus community to take part in a day-long community service project.
On September 6, 2003, members of the Union family wielded brooms, paint
brushes, and shovels as they took to the streets for the ninth annual John
Calvin Toll Day (who was one of the College's first graduates in 1799).
The
commitment to community service does not stop at the stroke of midnight for
most of Union's population. In fact, the athletic department has been committed
to community service for as long as John Calvin Toll Day has been observed.
“Being
involved in community service projects allows our team to give something back
and shows our kids how other people live and what they have and don't have,”
said head football coach John Audino, whose team is involved in several activities
throughout the year. “Getting involved also helps with team chemistry,
leadership, and allows our kids to have fun outside of football and Union.”
From left to right are:
The Dutchmen's activities included tutoring grammar school
children at Zoeller School in Schenectady on Tuesdays during the spring
semester; a project in Hamilton Hill that saw team members painting and
repairing a house on Strong Street for a family of seven; and volunteering at
the Schenectady City Mission.
On
Saturday, May 22, the men's and women's crew teams joined in the Stockade
Association's annual spring clean up of Riverside Park – a five-block stretch
of riverfront maintained by the city for the benefit of city residents and
visitors. Working alongside area residents, Union's crew teams trimmed trees,
raked leaves, cleaned flower beds, picked up trash and planted several large
gardens.
Members
of the women's lacrosse team have been involved with community youngsters from
kindergarten to second grade. They have helped children with reading skills and
stressed the importance of community and family, to name just two topics that
have been covered. Through the Kenney Center, team members maintain their
involvement with this age group. A number of players are also members of Big
Brothers/Big Sisters. Many children from the Schenectady community attend some
practices and games through their relationship with team members.
The
men's and women's hockey teams work with children in the Capital Region's local
hospitals. Stuffed animals were collected at two home hockey games and
distributed to the Ronald McDonald House and to Albany Children's Hospital
youth pediatric ward prior to the holidays and on Valentine's Day. Two young
children from the Children's Hospital in Albany were able to attend a men's game,
visit with the players, and go out on the ice after the game for pictures and
autographs. A couple of the players have maintained e-mail communication with
the families since their visit.
The volleyball team participates in the UCARE Day through
the Kenney Center, where the Dutchwomen had a booth of temporary tattoos and
bead bracelet making. “This was the second year of our participation in UCARE
Day,” said head coach Sandy Collins. “Our team members enjoyed it last year and
expressed a desire to participate again this year. I believe it is extremely
important for teams to be involved in community service in the local
community.” For a second consecutive year, the Dutchwomen also participated in
the RELAY FOR LIFE, which was held at Union to benefit the American Cancer
Society.
The
women's hockey team set up the Animal Protective Foundation's Fireplug 500 Dog
Walk in Central Park; hosted a “Skate with the Dutchwomen Night” and post-game
receptions for local Girl Scout Troops; visited the Ronald McDonald House in
Albany; and visited Albany Medical Center children's ward.
The
men's soccer team conducted a “Shootout Station” at UCARE earlier this spring
in Memorial Fieldhouse. The event is a community outreach for local “at-risk”
youth. The Dutchmen's point person on the event was sophomore Wade Cheatham
(Vail, Colo.) “Wade did a great job of organizing the event and getting the
players to volunteer their time,” said head coach Jeff Guinn. “Our team gets as
much out of the day as the UCARE participants, just getting to interact with
the kids and to see them enjoy the event.”